Re: DIY and Home Repair

Originally Posted by Courtney

Can we have a questions survey like the other gift exchange, only with completely non-relevant questions? Like, if you were going to have an existential crisis, would you be more likely to relate to Hamlet, Holden Caufield, or Don Draper? These are the sorts of things I need to know in order to craft an adequate gift.

This is a good idea. I will come up with something. You can add anything you'd like as well.

Originally Posted by seandlr

I'd like to participate, except the fact that the artistry on this board is amazing and it would make gift look like it came from a toddler.

It's not a contest. I'm sure anything you'd like to make would be appreciated by the recipient.

Oops. New page. Handmade secret santa is what is happening here. All are welcome to participate.

Re: DIY and Home Repair

I just sanded down a pair of wooden bookends and then painted them white, a la Jonathan Adler. Feeling a little light-headed now. Words to the wise: always have proper ventilation when using industrial spray paint.

Re: DIY and Home Repair

Yay Ivy and IFA!

Hannah, it just occurred to me that due to Hawaii and holiday shipping delays and whatnot, I really need to have all holiday packages in the mail by December 15 or so. And crafting takes time, so an accelerated timeline for receiving recipient assignments would probably preferable.

Re: DIY and Home Repair

Okay. Glad to have you, Ivy and Amy. I have cleared out some PM space, so anybody who wants to sign up please send me a private message with your address to confirm participation. I will continue to take new signups until the end of the day and then progress from there.

When you sign up, please also come back here and answer a few questions to help make sure your giftmaking person knows a little bit about you:

What was the last thing you made?

What was the last handmade thing you bought/acquired on purpose?

Do you wear accessories?

Is your home decorated with any particular color scheme?

Are you amenable to receiving edible gifts and if so, do you have any severe allergies to common edible gift ingredients?

If you were to have an existential crisis, would you identify most with Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, or Don Draper?

yes. i wear earrings (normal size) and necklaces. i also wear rings and occasionally i wear bracelets, though they are annoying at work. i like scarves & hats, though i don't always wear them. broaches/pins are cool, but i don't have a lot of them. please don't make me a belt.

Re: DIY and Home Repair

What was the last thing you made?

Uh, I helped with Ivy's slave Leia costume. On the non-Halloweeny front, some paper-craft stuff with my friend Kevin (origami robots, Pixar character models, etc.), and I've got a 3/4s of a mural finished in my spare bedroom, which I've been working on for 3 damn months.

What was the last handmade thing you bought/acquired on purpose?

Teal and black striped belly dance pants that didn't end up fitting very well.

Do you wear accessories?

Yes!! I have a special love for big/loud/gaudy/costume jewelry. Also, hats, quirky scarves, and over-sized sunglasses.

Is your home decorated with any particular color scheme?

My living room was once described as looking "like a harlequin threw up in it", which I don't think was meant as a compliment but I took it as such. Most of the house consists of different combinations of pistachio green, plum, or yellow (walls) with red/yellow/orange accessories. My bedroom is dark teal and has this whole bohemian boudoir vibe with hot pink rugs.

Are you amenable to receiving edible gifts and if so, do you have any severe allergies to common edible gift ingredients?

Edible gifts would probably end up going to waste, so not really.

If you were to have an existential crisis, would you identify most with Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, or Don Draper?

Rozencrantz. Or, Guildenstern.

The last question is a wildcard. Write it, then answer it.

Do you have a collection of antique tea paraphernalia (cups, pots, etc.)?

Re: DIY and Home Repair

I spray-painted some wooden horse head bookends shiny white yesterday, does that count?

What was the last handmade thing you bought/acquired on purpose?

A 1960s Japanese-ish inlaid tray with a cherry blossom motif

Do you wear accessories?

Yes, I wear earrings (either studs or the bigger the better) and necklaces (18"+, no chokers please). I tend not to wear bracelets or rings or brooches too often, although I will if they're really special.

Is your home decorated with any particular color scheme?

My kitchen and bathroom are pale yellow and black and white. My living room is kind of a big old mess, but I guess sort of fall mid-century modern tones like mustard yellow and dark brown and olive prevail. My bedroom is deep teal and red and white. My office is pale pink and silver and white.

Are you amenable to receiving edible gifts and if so, do you have any severe allergies to common edible gift ingredients?

Yes, I am very amenable. I have no allergies. Although heads up: parcel post to Hawaii takes 6-8 weeks or more, so if you're going to send me something perishable, I recommend priority mail.

If you were to have an existential crisis, would you identify most with Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, or Don Draper?

Re: DIY and Home Repair

A screenprinted tote bag and some craft beer (I bought them at the same time).

Do you wear accessories?

Yes, but not extremely loud ones.

Is your home decorated with any particular color scheme?

Not really. If I think something is awesome, I'll work it into the decor.

Are you amenable to receiving edible gifts and if so, do you have any severe allergies to common edible gift ingredients?

I love the idea of it in theory, but I find that I often don't finish whole batches of baked goods when they're given to me. A sample of something you were already making would be well received, but a batch of something would probably go to waste.
If you were to have an existential crisis, would you identify most with Hamlet, Holden Caulfield, or Don Draper?

I don't think there's much room for identification with others in my existential crisis.

Re: DIY and Home Repair

Okay. I still haven't heard back from everybody, but I can't keep the people who signed up quickly waiting. I will send out assignments in the next few minutes. Sorry if you missed it this round, folks, but I'll do another one next year and start it earlier.

Re: DIY and Home Repair

anybody know if it's legal for me to purchase a replacement breaker panel to get rid of a badly installed Federal Pacific breaker panel? or do I have to suck it up and pay a contractor. also, would I save a few bucks by buying the panel myself and just paying off the labor? or would the contractor be insulted by my skinflinting?

Re: DIY and Home Repair

Originally Posted by dorkfish

anybody know if it's legal for me to purchase a replacement breaker panel to get rid of a badly installed Federal Pacific breaker panel? or do I have to suck it up and pay a contractor. also, would I save a few bucks by buying the panel myself and just paying off the labor? or would the contractor be insulted by my skinflinting?

unfortunately that'd be illegal. And in my experience contractors don't mark up stuff like that significantly. You could tell them that your friend or relative was going to do it for you cheap but you're tired of waiting for them to come back to town. That's a useful way to hint that you already know how much the parts cost.

It does sound a bit insulting to buy the parts for the contractor. For one thing they might be worried you've bought the wrong stuff, and not want to deal with an argument. Sometimes they also will get fussy about insuring their work without choosing their own parts suppliers.

It's like bringing your car to a mechanic with a new set of brakes and say "here take care of this".

do you have any other electrical work that can be taken care of to cut down on the trip cost? Maybe some extra wall outlets or somethign?

Re: DIY and Home Repair

Yeah, but it's just a lot of minor wiring electrical work that I could do myself for the cost of some wire if I had the new breaker to assure that I wouldn't accidentally get killed. When I move in this January, I am probably going to be too lazy and just pay the guy to crawl under the house anyways.

Our inspector quoted us $3000 to replace a shed roof. Good luck with that shed.

Re: DIY and Home Repair

the former. though Shed will not be deprived of a new roof. he'll just have to deal with 1) a blue tarp instead of proper weatherproofing and 2) my roofing abilities instead of a $3000 estimate's abilities.